Local Orthodontist Brings Passion, New Technology to Industry

Local Orthodontist Brings Passion, New Technology to Industry

By Stefanie Pohl. CREATED Feb 8, 2013

From the moment one meets Dr. Louis Chmura, it's clear that he has a passion for his industry. After over 20 years since receiving his Master's degree in Orthodontics from the University of Michigan, Dr. Chmura continues to be challenged by and fascinated with his ever-evolving field.

Along with embracing the latest in technological advances, Dr. Chmura's approach to orthodontics also thrives in the realm of doctor-to-patient relations.

In being involved with the Smile for a Lifetime foundation, Dr. Chmura aims to help those who are unable to afford orthodontic care. Potential patients write an essay to describe what it would mean to them to have procedures done.

"I want to identify that shrinking violet, diamond in the rough whose self esteem maybe isn't where it should be. But when it is, they will become something special."

In helping those patients, Dr. Chmura hopes that their newfound confidence will encourage them to "pay it forward" and help others in the community.

He also sees the potential for changing his patients' perception of themselves, beyond creating a perfected smile.

"For me, it's not about the smile - that's easy. We can do that. It's about what the smile means. Some see this as an irritant, but there are some whose esteem is not where it could be. They have a self image, and that self image causes them to shoot themselves in the foot. Smiles shouldn't make that much of a difference, but they do. So that's what we're offering: a change in a perception of yourself to say, 'I can be somebody.'"

Dr. Chmura's offices are equipped with some of the latest pieces of technology, aimed at making the experience more precise and more effective.

One of those technologies is SureSmile, which allows the Doctor to perform virtual treatment planning at the finishing stages. As Dr. Chmura adjusts a virtual scan of a patient's mouth to have teeth align in a particular way, those directions are dictated to a robot that will bend a wire in a way that cannot be done by human hands.

"The robot bends the wire in three dimensions so I move every tooth all a one time, into precise positions. You can't do that with your hands. So I can show the patient on the computer what the results are going to be," he says.

According to Dr. Chmura, by using technology like SureSmile, there is a 40% reduction in treatment time, on average. The amount of in-office appointments are also reduced.

"In this economy, that is not insignificant," he says. "It's rare that we see cases go beyond two years."

Along with a reduction of treatment time, Dr. Chmura says results are becoming significantly better.

With all of the advances and changes within the industry, it's easy to see why Dr. Chmura continues to feel passionate towards the field of Orthodontics. Whether helping those unable to afford orthodontic procedures or those hoping for the best and quickest result, Dr. Chmura and his office team give patients plenty to smile about.

Get news or weather in your inbox

Comments

This site uses Facebook comments to make it easier for you to contribute.
If you see a comment you would like to flag for spam or abuse,
click the "x" in the upper right of it. By posting,
you agree to our Terms of Use.